Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee on Tuesday, opting to draw an analogy regarding Iran to clocks. He spoke of two clocks, the Iranian clock moving ahead towards nuclear independence and the clock of the international community, which he compared to a broken down vehicle, not keeping pace with Iran.

He confirmed recent statements released by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, indicating significant economic sanctions aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear program are in all likelihood, months away.

Regarding ongoing Chinese opposition to crippling sanctions, Mr. Netanyahu added that China is interested in developing deeper relations with Israel and this may provide the key to persuading China to change its position, although he admitted one cannot predict just how China will react. He added that regarding the other major opponent to stiffer sanctions, Russia, one cannot know how Moscow will act down the road, stating during his recent visit, he saw “increased understanding”, perhaps referring to the Russian willingness to delay the sale of the advanced S-300 air defense system to Iran, a system that would significantly complicate a aerial strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)